The mission at San Juan Bautista, founded in 1797 partly to shield the Monterey Peninsula from Native American raiding parties, boasts the largest of all the Californian mission churches, completed in 1812. Though the church continues to serve the local community and the mission is generally well-preserved, of more abiding interest are the buildings of San Juan Bautista State Historic Park, facing the mission across the town’s Spanish plaza.

Detour – Fremont Peak State Park

Drive 11 miles south from San Juan Bautista along San Juan Canyon Road and you ascend to the tree-studded ridges of Fremont Peak State Park, giving views across the Monterey Peninsula. At night, distanced from polluting cities, the sky here is exceptionally clear and the park’s Fremont Peak Observatory hosts entertaining evening astronomical talks during the summer. For details (http://www.fpoa.net.)